Shoe Outsole With Cleat Attachment

ABSTRACT

A dancing shoe outsole includes an array of sockets that are specially configured to accept cleats to be inserted in customized positions on the sole. Unlike common spike type cleats that are designed to grip for traction, the preferred embodiment provides the ability to spin, slide and tap on a surface while preserving the floor surface. And advantageously, the attachable cleats for outdoor use are metallic to provide the special effect of generating sparks on concrete. Optionally the cleat may be of a decorative design.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/510,883 with a filing date of Aug. 1, 2011.

BACKGROUND

Footwear with cleats and other attachments to the outer soles are well known. Sports shoes used for football, golf, etc. often include a plurality of cleats to improve traction on grass, with the cleats sometimes being detachable from fixed positions on the outsole. Similarly other shoes for indoor sports such as basketball commonly include special surfaces designed to better grip floors, concrete or the like.

But with dancing, depending upon the particular dance, the dancer sometimes desires to slide rather than gripping a wood floor or other generally smooth surface such as concrete. Further, the dancer may want his or her shoes to make noises or provide other special effects, and it is expensive having to have multiple dance shoes depending upon the effect desired and the dancing surface.

For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for improved dancing shoes which enable a dancer to slide on varying surfaces, and produce varying effects, in a single pair of dance shoes.

SUMMARY

A dancing shoe includes an outsole having an array of large number of sockets, and several cleats which are removably attachable to selected sockets. The cleats are of a smooth and generally rounded, dome-shaped configuration. With such a shoe a dancer may easily adapt it for improved sliding and other special effects.

Each of the cleats preferably include a several tabs sized to be inserted into selected sockets. The sockets are preferably necked down spherical holes, and the ends of the tabs are correspondingly spherical, for snapping and locking the cleats into place.

The cleats are preferably of a rigid material, either plastic typically for indoors use, or metal typically for outdoors. The cleats may also be of a decorative design, for example, a wheel, for aesthetic purposes. The outsole is a flexible rubber-like material, such that the shoes without the cleats function well for normal street wear.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dance shoe of the preferred embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the outsole showing an array of sockets.

FIG. 3 is a section view of the socket with a necked down spherical hole.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a dome-shaped cleat.

FIG. 5 is a section view of the cleat showing its overall shape and spherical end of the tab.

FIG. 6 shows an alternate embodiment, a portion of the outsole with a wheel-shaped cleat installed therein.

DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, the preferred embodiment dancing shoe 10 discloses street shoes with a special outsole 12 that includes an array of several hundred sockets 14 that are able to accept cleats 16 to be inserted in customized positions on the sole 12. The multiple arrays of sockets 14 are designed with spherical holes 18 that are necked down at a point of entry 20, thus creating a snapping and locking feature upon insertion of the cleats 16 multiple spherical-shaped tabs 22.

The cleats 16 are manufactured from a durable material to accommodate a wide range of floor surfaces and terrain. Indoor cleats 16 made of plastic assist a dancer to spin, slide and tap with protection to floor, while outdoor cleats 16 made of metal empower dancers to not only spin, slide and tap, but to create sparks on concrete.

The preferred embodiment shoes have an outsole 12 that functions well as a street shoe, but adding the feature of the array of sockets 14 able to accept cleats 16 to be inserted in customized positions on the sole 12. The rounded dome like shape or truncated dome shape shown in FIG. 4 aids the shoe to spin, slide and tap. The quantity of cleats 16 inserted will vary for the level of user.

The outsole 12 of shoe 10 may be made as normal rubber transfer mold. The cleat 16 component may be injection molded or lost wax cast process for metal. The socket 14/cleat 16 interface is preferably designed such that normal weight pressure will allow the snapping feature to retain the cleat 16 or cleats 16 during use. This snapping advantageously fastens two components without the use of adhesive, and allows their easy removal converting the adaptable dancing shoes 10 back to street shoes as desired.

FIG. 6 shows an alternate embodiment cleat 24 performing similarly to the design of the preferred embodiment cleat 16, but have a decorative appearance.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention is sufficient in detail to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention. It is understood, however, that the detail of the preferred embodiment presented is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, in as much as equivalents thereof and other modifications which come within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading this specification. 

1. A dancing shoe comprising: an outsole having a multiplicity of sockets; a plurality of cleats removably attachable to selected sockets; the cleats of a smooth and generally dome-shaped configuration; whereby a dancer may easily adapt the shoe for improved sliding and other special effects.
 2. The dancing shoe of claim 1 wherein the cleats include a plurality of tabs sized to be inserted into the selected sockets.
 3. The dancing shoe of claim 1 wherein the sockets are necked down spherical holes, and the ends of the tabs are correspondingly spherical, whereby the cleats may be snapped and locked into place.
 4. The dancing shoe of claim 1 wherein the cleats are a rigid plastic material.
 5. The dancing shoe of claim 1 wherein the cleats are metallic.
 6. The dancing shoe of claim 1 wherein the cleats are of a decorative shape.
 7. The dancing shoe of claim 1 wherein the outsole is a flexible rubber-like material.
 8. A dancing shoe comprising: an outsole having a multiplicity of sockets; a plurality of cleats removably attachable to selected sockets; the cleats of a smooth and generally dome-shaped configuration; wherein interface of the cleats and the sockets is configured such that normal weight pressure will retain the cleats in the sockets during use; wherein the cleats are a rigid material; and, wherein the outsole is a flexible rubber-like material.
 9. The dancing shoe of claim 8 wherein the cleats include a plurality of tabs sized to be inserted into selected sockets.
 10. The dancing shoe of claim 8 wherein the sockets are necked down spherical holes, and the ends of the tabs are correspondingly spherical. 